SILVER BELLS TEACAKES RECIPE and BOOK GIVEAWAY

                                                

Here's a recipe AND a GIVEAWAY!
The publisher sent me a recipe for Silver Bells Teacakes, AND (3) three "SILVER BELLS" books to give away to my readers! And that's you!  

The holiday book "SILVER BELLS" is a collection of four encouraging, feel-good stories that will put you in the holiday spirit! Mary Burton's Silver Bells Teacakes recipe was born out of the need to take a break in the kitchen and further motivate her to continue writing her latest novella, Christmas Past.

Publishers Weekly says, "Each story contains a full-fledged romance from first kiss to happy ending, both satisfying readers and encouraging them to seek out the authors' longer works."

The four novellas are:

• Silver Bells by Fern Michaels
• Dear Santa by Joann Ross
• Christmas Past by Mary Burton
• A Mulberry Park Christmas by Judy Duarte

I must admit, I didn't get a chance to read the book, BUT, John did. I said, "What, you want to read a chick book?" He said, "It's really good! They're short stories that flow real nice, have a feel-good feeling and have a good ending." He admitted they were encouraging and kept his attention! He couldn't put it down! That's saying something for a guy with a chick book! He also said, there were a few steamy parts, nothing too risque, but certainly not for children. He gave the book a Thumbs-Up and said it's a good read any time of the year and not just at Christmas!

Sooooo, here's the scoop! The publisher sent me three (3) books to give away to my readers! Since it's the day before Christmas and all through the house....I'll run this contest until the day after Christmas, Friday, December 26th at midnight EST. Leave a holiday comment on this post. The winners will be chosen using a random generator. I'll mail them out next week sometime. Only entries from USA & Canada, please! And tell your friends! Remember, I have three to give away!

SILVER BELLS TEACAKES RECIPE

• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1/4 cup softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup of dried cherries
• 1/2 cup canned cream cheese icing
• Confectioners' sugar for dusting cherries

Directions:

1. Blend together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth. Mix in sugar and lemon extract. Sift together flour and salt then blend into creamed butter mixture. Gently mix in dried cherries.
2. Chill for one hour. Form dough into balls, flatten with the bottom of a glass or mug, dredge in confectioners' sugar and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (cookies won't spread).
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook 12-15 minutes until set but not browned. Place the cookies on a cooling rack resting on a baking sheet.
4. Spoon canned icing into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 15-20 seconds. Stir until smooth, then pour a thin coating over the cookies. Let stand on the rack until the icing hardens. Dust with confectioners' sugar and garnish with dried cherries.

SILVER BELLS, Fern Michaels, JoAnn Ross, Mary Burton, Judy Duarte/Zebra Books/Mass Market Original
November 2008/$7.99 ($9.99 Canada) 978-1-4201-0363-2, 1-4201-0363-6
Recipe used with permission by publisher.

Comments

[Sherra]

Happy Holidays from our kitchen to your's!

[Cheryl Sims]

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you for the enjoyable gift you give me with all your posts. I relish reading every yummy post. Thank you. I am also a Fern Michaels fan so this would be a great Christmas present.
Cheryl Sims

[Cindy]

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, Give a hug to everyone in VT. for me! Love ya!

[Kristin O]

Yum, sounds good, and I could appreciate a good chick book! Thanks for a chance to win!

[Joyand Phil]

I just found your site and as a Fern Michaels fan look forward to being included in your gift givaway.

[sarita]

i just read your post about your boat an the snow! WOW!! i love the name of your boat. I Just saw the movie Ladyhawk for the first time..
thank you for the opportunity to win a book - a good gift any time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for a wonderful blog.

[Angela]

Thank you so much for sharing. The butterscotch pudding is being made for a Friday family dinner. We are huge butterscotch fans and can not wait! Merry Christmas to you and your's.

[Charmaine]

It just turned midnight and is officially Christmas in California...so MERRY CHRISTMAS Donna! Can't wait to try the recipe. And thanks for the chance to win this book.

Charmaine

[deanna polito-laughinghouse]

Merry Christmas and a blessed new year! I hope this has been your best Christmas EVER!

[Chris]

Thanks for the opportunity to win a great book and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[Johannah B]

Merry Christmas to you....and yours. May you days be filled with joyful recipes and your cupboards never be bare.

[Lori A.]

Merry Christmas!! I love chick books! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

[Liliana]

Sounds like a good book to read throughout the holidays (maybe I will have some free time to actually read a book).

I wish you and your family a great Christmas!

[Nancy Park]

I LOVE Fern Michaels books! The last one I read had 2 little Yorkies in it.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

[Sharon G]

Merry Christmas. I love your blog and the yummy recipes. A book sounds good. Now that all the rush is over, I may actually have time to read it!

[Carolyn S]

Happy Holidays to you and yours. My children and I have just come home from spending the day with my sister and her children. What a wonderful time we had. the holidays are a wonderful excuse to spend time together. Hope you have a warm cozy holiday and don't bake too much.

thanks for sharing, sounds like a great book. I know I love Fern Michaels.

carolyn s

ceashark at aol dot com

[Betty]

I was fogging around and found your wonderful website! I haven't read Fern Michaels in a while, but would love to read this collection. Merry, merry to you and yours!

[Natashya]

How nice to have a book give-away for the holidays!
Have a great holiday, and a very happy New Year!

[Keeling]

Merry Merry Christmas! And I would love a chance to win the book!

[Donna]

I would love to win one of these books,
I love to read and the short stories are the absolute best when waiting to pick my daughter up and feel good stories are great.
Thank you and Merry Christmas
Donna Coffman

[Lisa]

Merry Christmas to you all! Loved seeing the pictures of the boats all covered in snow. Here is Texas we have 75 one day and 35 the next. Today is to be near 80. No snow anywhere in the forecast. Thanks for sharing! Love your recipes.

[Michelle]

Happy Holidays everyone! Thanks for all the recipes and the tips & tricks to making them.

[susan in FL]

Merry Christmas and Congrats on your Tuesdays with Dorie. Looks like a fabo recipie.

[Betz61]

The tea cakes and the stories sound like something I need to unwind after this super busy holiday. I love christmas but do so many hand made gifts and ornaments that add extra rushing to complete that every year I overfill my time so I could really use a day to just unwind. Thanks for the chance to win.

[Paula K]

Merry Christmas to you! Those tea cakes sound delicious.

[Arlet]

Merry Christmas - and I'm thinkin' the tea cakes will be a perfect new year confection to try. Thanks for the recipe!

[Linda Budzik]

I can't wait to try the tea cakes. I'm having a post-Christmas tea party next week for my aunt, sister, nieces, and mom and this sounds like a great little tea dessert. Merry Christmas to you and your family and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2009!

[Find a Culinary School]

Silver Bells Teacakes, looks delicious. Thanks for sharing. Tea cakes are the perfect confectionery item for new year. I wish you happy holidays

Rowena